NHL Round 2 predictions: Devils a heaven-sent opponent for Flyers

Before we look forward to Round Two of the NHL playoffs, let’s reflect on what was a thrilling yet sometimes disturbing Round One.

It had it all, didn’t it?

Savage hits – including Nashville Captain Shea Weber slamming the head of Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg in the boards – beautiful goals, stars fighting stars and strong goaltending (except for most of the Philly/Pittsburgh series).

And upsets. Lots of upsets. In four of the eight series, the lower-seeded team won. That’s why we love playoff hockey.

OK, enough reflecting (even though that was a first-round for the ages), let’s focus on Round Two. We’ll start with the fifth-seeded Flyers against the sixth-seeded Devils.

What’s the best medicine after a bloody, gut-wrenching series against Las Vegas’ favorite to win the Stanley Cup?

How about the Devils?

The Flyers are going to roll this team.

Shutting down Ilya Kovalchuk (right), Travis Zajac and Zach Parise won’t be a problem for the Flyers after not only limiting Pens stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but watching them unravel.

The Flyers scored 26 goals against Marc-Andre Fluery and will likely tear up Martin Brodeur, who will turn 40 during the series.

Brodeur wandered from his net several times during the Florida series, slowly lumbering back with an open cage.

Florida didn’t capitalize enough on those chances, but the Flyers will.

If anything’s going to cause Brodeur – arguably the best goalie in his prime, which expired years ago – to retire, it might be this series.

I know, I know. The Flyers let up 10 goals in Game 4 last series and Ilya Bryzgalov gave up five in that game before being pulled. And I realize Bryzgalov gave up 21 in the six-game series for a poor 3.89 goals against average.

But he’s got the Devils number. He was 3-0 against them this season with two shutouts and – are you ready for this? – a 0.29 goals against average.

The Devils did win three other games against the Flyers with Sergei Bobrovsky in net. But I doubt we will see Bob without his baseball cap on this series.

Flyers Center Claude Giroux (left) is on fire, leading all players in playoff scoring with six goals and 14 points in six games. His former housemate Danny Briere is on his typical playoff tear with five goals in six games.

Flyers rookies have been huge. Sean Couturier shadowed Malkin last series and while he was at it, he scored a hat trick in Game 2. Matt Read played the point on the power play and Brayden Schenn has been perhaps the Flyers biggest hitter.

All three were snubbed for consideration for Rookie of the Year. But Devils rookie Adam Henrique was nominated.

Think there will be some motivation there for the young guys?

Flyers will win this in five.

Here’s a look at the other series:

Eastern Conference:

--No. 1 New York Rangers vs. No. 7 Washington CapitalsI don’t know what to think about the Rangers. On paper, they are far superior to their Round One opponent, the Ottawa Senators, yet they needed seven games to win and won that by just a goal. The Caps, meanwhile, upset the second-seeded Boston Bruins, last year’s champs. The Caps have offensive firepower with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and company, but NY goalie Henrik Lundqvist is terrific and their D is solid. I just can’t see Caps rookie goalie Braden Holtby out-dueling Lundqvist.Rangers in six.

Western Conference:

--No. 2 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 8. Los Angeles KingsThis is going to be a great defensive matchup. Both teams have great goalies. Even though LA is the eighth seed, I believe they’re going to pull this series out. Despite struggling to score all season, they have more game breakers on offense with Mike Richards, Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. Goalie Jonathan Quick has been fantastic, probably the best goalie in the playoffs so far. And beating the number one seed, Vancouver, was huge. St. Luis starting goalie Jaroslav Halak will miss the first couple games because of injury, and even though the Blues have a great back-up in 1A starter Brian Elliot (an all-star this season) and a fine coach in Ken Hitchcock, the Kings will pull this out.Kings in seven.

Current Comments

Bryz didn't give up 10 goals in game 4... he gave up 5. Bob gave up the other 5 which lends to concern over Bryz having another bad game and not being able to use Bob to recover.

Posted By: Chris | Apr 27, 2012 3:47:20 PM

We will see who will win the Devils Flyers series. Devils have the better Defense and the better goaltender. Hey the Devils are not Pittsburgh. We handled the flyers all year but Im glad you picked the Flyers because the Devils play better when they are not the favorites You know what in game 1 we took your Flyers to OT and we didn't even play well. In game 2 we dominated your Flyers. I think the Devils will take this series in 5 or 6. GO DEVILS.

You are really good at this. In your playoff predictions before they started you said the Devils were inferior to the Flyers, and continued that garbage here...good job. You also didn't pick a single first round series in the west correctly.

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